Monaco

2012

Commemorative coin

500th anniversary of the foundation of Monaco's Sovereignty, by founder Lucien 1er Grimaldi

Official Journal of the European Union

The inner part of the coin shows a portrait of Lucien 1er Grimaldi in profile facing to the left. The words ‘SOUVERAINETE DE MONACO’ appear above the portrait in an arc along the upper edge of the inner part of the coin, flanked by the years ‘1512’ and ‘2012’. Two ornamental details are engraved at the beginning and at the end of the text. At the bottom, the horn of plenty, mintmark of the ‘Monnaie de Paris’, and the ‘fleurette’, hallmark of the engraving workshop, flank the portrait on the left hand side and the right hand side, respectively. Above the mintmark is engraved the inscription ‘Lucien Ier’. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

In 1512, King Louis XII of France recognised Monegasque independence. The coin shows the portrait of Lucien I, Lord of Monaco (1481-1523), who defended Monaco in 1507 against a superiority of the Genoese. The design of the coin is based on a painting attributed to Ambrogio de Predis, created in the early 16th century.

Edge lettering

Designer